Extension-table



5 Sheets Sheet 1.

( Model.)

C. POUPON. EXTENSION TABLE.

Patented June 21 1898.

Ml VENTUR A NEH/V3 W/ TNE SSE S 'INE Nana's PETERS 00., PHoTmJma, WASHINGTON, n. c.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 OIPOUPON. EXTENSION TABLE.

Patented June21, 1898.

P T I /N VENTOH ATTORNEYS.

(N0 Mbdel.)

Patented June 21,1898

5 Sheets-Sheet 3] l/NVE/VTOR A TTOHNEYS.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

0. POUPON. EXTENSION TABLE.

No. 606,084. Patented June 21,1898.

WITNESSES //VVEN7'0/? A 7'TORNE rs.

"5 Sheets-Sheet 5 y (No ModeL) O.POUPON. EXTENSION TABLE. U

v N 06,084( Patented June 21, 1898.

INVENTOF/ ATTORNEYS W/ TNE SSE 8 CHARLES 'roUPoN, or EAGLE LAKE, FLORIDA EXTENSION-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,084, dated June 21, 1898.

. Application filed June 7,1897. :Serial No. 689,788. (No model.)

To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES PoUPoN, of Eagle Lake, in the county of Polk and State of Florida, have'invented new and useful Improvements in Extension-Tables, of which the following is a full,clea'r, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in extension-tables, particularly those which are circular in form, and has for its object to enable the table to be adjusted to any diameter within its capacity by simply turning a crank or adjusting-wheel. This table has itstop formed of a large number of sectors, which are so connected and guided that they may be moved on radial lines inward and outward.

The central portion of the table, or the surwhich support the V outer ends of the sectors; and to which are attached the adj usting means and legs for supporting the ou'ter'ends of the sectors. Thesesectors are also provided with springs to separate them when they are extended and also with a flexible connector by which undue separation thereof is avoided. The arms or bars which are attached to these rings and to the legs lie in a subtantially radial direction. The bars are toothed and engage with a central pinion by which all of the bars are forced outward or inward at the same time and at the same rate.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the appended claims. a

Referencelis to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a table, showin g a portion of the table-cloth and of the central metal plate broken away. Fig. 2 is a crosssectional elevation taken upon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a partial bottom plan view taken upon the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig.

4: is a sectional plan View of the lower portion of'the table, taken upon the-line 4 4 of Fig.

2. Figs. 5 and 6 are an elevation and plan view of the disk which supports the central shaft. Fig. '1 is a detail elevation showing one of the pivoted legs and the connection of the adjusting arm or bar to the supportingrings and to the sectors. Fig. Sis a crosssection of one of the adjustable rings, and Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of a small section of the table-top.

The central frame of the table consists of the four legs L, which are connected near their lower ends (see Figs. 2 and 4) by the ring A and at their upper ends by a frame,

which, as shown in the drawings, particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, consists of the four bars A. To the upper part of this latter frame is fixed a circular top A, which should be nearly the size of the smallest dimensions of the table. On the upper side of the top A and in the center thereof isplaced a hub Aiwhich should be of a thickness corresponding with the depth of the ribs 0. I

, The sectors B are made very narrow, so that when the table is' expanded thespace between any two of the sectors'will be comparatively small-and when the table is covered with a thick table-cloth the space will not be noticed. ,The sectors'Bare drawn to a sharp edge at their inner ends and when in their innermost position are close to or in contact with the central hub A In this position the sides of the sectors are in contact, and the sectors are also mostly, if not wholly, beneath the thin metal plate A, which lies immediately above them. This plate A is secured by the screw m to the hub A The outer portions of the plate are also secured to the outer portion A of the tabletop by means of pins orbolts Z7 (see Fig. 9,) passing through the plate and between the sectors. Upon the top A are also seeuredaseries of radial plates 0, held in position by the screws or bolts These plates 0 also lie between sectors and serve as guides to secure radial movement of the sectors, but several sectors are located IOO metal plates attached at their ends to the sides of the sectors. The object in hinging the sectors is twofold--to support and brace them and to prevent them from falling off at the edge when fully extended by means of a pin inserted between the sectors and near the edge of the supporting table-top, as will here inafter appear. The plates B are bent so as to act as springs to separate adjacent sectors and are pivoted to each other at their free or inner ends. The sectors are also provided with springs 13 which are similar in construction to the plates B but are not hinged. The sides of the sectors are recessed, as shown at b, to provide room for these springs, those sectors between which the plates or ribs 0 are placed being recessed more than the others for the purpose previously mentioned. This is clearly shown in Fig. 9. Too great an extension of the sectors is prevented by the pins I), which connect the plate A and the table-top A. The joint of the hinges will engage the pins 1) when the sectors have reached their full extension and prevent further movement of the sectors.

The outer ends of the sectors 13 are fastened by means of wire staples or loops 1) to the adjustable rings D and D, which rings are shown in cross-section in Fig. 8 and in bottom plan in Fig. 3. Each ring is divided into sections. One section consists of two bars D, which are separated a short distance from each other, so as to form a recess or cavity between them. As shown in Fig. 8, this is accomplished by placing a wire 1) of proper thickness between the two plates near each edge. The other section of the ring consists of a single bar or plate D, which has its end entering the space in the other section. Each of these sections should preferably not be larger than a quarter of a circle, thus forming four sections for a ring, two of which are hollow and the other two solid. The ends of the solid sections enter the hollow or tubular sections, so that the ring may be expanded or contracted, the single bar entering the hollow between the double bars.

The sectors are attached to the double section by means of the loops or staples b". The ends of these loops or staples pass through the sector and are bent down at their upper ends, as shown at b in Fig. 9. Their lower ends may also be provided with rings made by twisting the loops or staples. The rings b may be used for receiving hooks placed in the edge of the table-cloth, whereby the edge of the table-cloth will be supported and prevented from dropping as far as it would otherwise do when the table is contracted. As previously stated, two of these adjustable rings D D are provided and are arranged so that the double section of one corresponds with the single section of the other. The upper surface of the single section will not be quite as high as the upper surface of the double section.

The use of two rings D D and the arrangethey were upon the singlewsection they would engage the end of the double section when the ring was contracted.

The upper portion of the frame of the table is provided with a number of tubes a, which form guides for the movable arms a. In the drawings I have shown eight of these arms arranged evenly about the circle. The arms a do not pass exactly through the center of the table, but a little to one side, so as to be tangent to the adjacent pinion G the arms within the gnid es a being toothed upon their inner portion and engaging the teeth of the pinion G The two guides (1, extending par allel and in opposite directions, are placed in the same plane; but each set of guides is, however, placed in a different plane. This results in there being four sets placed in different planes, all engaging the toothed wheel G The wheel G is mounted upon a'shaft G, supported at its lower end by an adjusting-screw II and a cap II, which is bolted to the frame of the table. The bolt 11 is threaded and may be raised or lowered to adjust the position of the shaft G.

At its lower end the shaft G is provided with a pinion G of the same size as the pinion G and meshing with two sets of arms (1 which at their outer ends are attached to the lower ends of the legs L. These arms a are toothed upon their inner ends and slide in the guides a The shaft Gis also provided with a bevelgear G, which meshes with a bevel-pinion F ICC mounted upon a horizontal shaft F. The outer end of this shaft extends to a point where it is accessible and has a hand adj ustin g-wheel F or is otherwise arranged so that it may be engaged by a crank to turn the same. 15y revolving the shaft F it is clear that the arms a and a will all be forced outwardly or in wardly and at the same rate. The outer ends for each alternate one of the arms a are rigidly connected by means of the plates D with the center of the hollow sections D of the adjustable rings. The ends of these sections are slidably connected, as shown in Fig. 7, with the upper portion of the movable tablelegs adjacent thereto on each side by means of the rollers D, which are pivoted in an inclosing frame fixed to the end of the bar a. These rollers lie on each side of the hollow sections D of the adjustable rings and permit free endwise movement therebetween. As the legs and arms are forced outward the sectors B are carried along therewith.

The springs B and 13 between the sectors 13 force them apart, and the expansion due to the increased diameter of the table is taken up a little between the sectors. The outer ends of the sectors are joined to each other by means of a chain J or other flexible connector, which is attached to each sector by .tween the sectors and the rings D.

means of the screws J. This construction limits the space which may occur between adj acent sectors and prevents too large an opening at any point.

At the bottom of the sectors, near their outer ends, are placed small plates I, which lie be- These plates take up the wear due to the slight sliding movement of the sectors upon the rings. Four of the outer set of legs are pivoted to the outer ends of the arms a and to the rings D, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and '7. Plates a are fixed to the arms ct and also to the rings D. The upper ends of the legs L are slotted to receive these plates and are pivoted thereto by a pin L The plates are locked in upright position by means of pins L which may be placed in horizontal holes located just inside the edges of the plates a and above the pivotpoints of the legs L pins L the legs L may be swung to the horizontal position. The parts are so proportioned that when this is done the holes through which the pins L are inserted will then be just ontside the outer edges of the plates A and if the pins be inserted the legs will be held in a horizontal position. The pins L are secured to the legs L by means of short chains L so that the pins cannot become lost. The elevated position of the legs L is shown in Fig. 7 by dotted lines. The object of pivoting the plates and legs is to permit the legs to be drawn nearer to the center than would otherwise be possible, as without this arrangement the legs would engage the lower ring A be fore they reached their innermost position. This, however, may be avoided by otherwise designing the frame of the table.

In using the table herein shown and described it should be provided with a cloth E having considerable thickness or body, and thus bridge the gaps caused by the expansion of the sectors and cause the spaces between the sectors to be concealed. Moreover, the portion of the cloth lying outside of the plate A should be thicker than that portion upon the plate, and in this way the ledge which would otherwise be formed at the edge of the plate will be obliterated. This is secured by adding an extra layer or layers E of material beneath the body of the cloth outside the cover-plate A. The thickening of the tablecloth comes upon that portion which is upon the sectors and increases the thickness of the cloth where it is needed to bridge the spaces between the sectors. The cloth is preferably secured to the table at its center by any convenient means, as by the screw m. The outer edge of the cloth may be provided with hooks to engage the eyes b upon the lower ends of the staples Z). Preferably, however, the outer overhanging edge of the cloth will be provided with weights E which will hold the same down. As the table is contracted the edge of the cloth will drop lower, while when it is expanded the cloth will be raised. The

By removing the same clothwill therefore answer for the table in either adjustment.

I have herein shown my device as applied solely to a circular table. I do not, however, wish to be limited to its application to a circular table only, as it may be applied to tables which are of other forms.

The use of the term sectors herein is not intended to imply that the part so designated is a mathematically 'correct sector, but that its general outline resembles a sector or triangle two of the sides of which correspond substantially with radii of a circle. These sides are recessed to receive the springs and guiding-ribs; but they nevertheless resemble a sector in their general outline.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A table having its top composed of a central cover-plate and a series of sectors retractible beneath the cover-plate said sectors all lying and moving in the same plane, means for uniformly moving them outwardon radial lines, and fixed radial ribs forming guides controlling the position of said sectors and supporting the cover-plate.

2. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors flexibly connected to each other, and means for synchronously moving them in a radial direction.

3. A table having a top comprising sectors flexibly connected to each other, means for synchronously moving them outward in a radial direction, and a central cover-plate adapted to cover said sectors when in their retracted position.

4. A table having acentral fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors movable on radial lines and flexible connections between their outer ends limiting their separation.

5. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors movable on radial lines and springs between the sectors pressing the same apart.

6. A table having a central fixed structure extension members comprising sectors hinged to each other at their inner ends, and all occupying the same plane.

7. A table having its top formed of a central cover-plate and sectors movable on radial lines, and springs between the sectors pressingthe same apart, substantially as described.

8. A table having its top composed of a central cover-plate and sectors hinged to each other at their inner ends, substantially as described.

9. A table having its top composed of a central cover-plate and sectors hinged to each other at their inner ends, and means for synchronously moving the sectors outward or inward, substantially as described.

10. A table having its top composed of a central cover-plate and sectors hinged to each IIO other at their inner ends, fixed guides for the sectors, and means for synchronouslymoving the sectors outward or inward, substantially as described.

11. A table having its top composed of a central cover-plate and sectors, and springhinges connecting the inner ends of the sectors, substantially as described.

12. A table having its top composed of a central cover-plate and sectors, spring-hinges connecting the inner ends of the sectors, and means for synchronously moving the sectors in a radial direction, substantially as described.

13. A table having its top composed of a central cover-plate and sectors having shallow recesses on their sides, and flat springs within said recesses and forcing the sectors apart, substantially as described.

14. A table having its top composed of a central cover-plate and sectors movable on radial lines, and connections between the outer ends of the sectors and defining their maximum spread, substantially as described.

15. A table having its top formed of a central cover-plate and sectors movable on radial lines, and a chain attached to the outer ends of the sectors and defining their maximum spread, substantially as described.

16. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors hinged to each other at their inner ends, and a chain attached to the outer ends of the sectors and defining their maximum spread, substantially as described.

17. Atable havinga central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors hinged to each other at their inner ends, means for synchronously moving the sectors outward and inward, and a chain attached to the outer ends of the sectors, and defining their maximum spread, substantially as described.

18. A table having a central fixed structure,

7 extension members comprising sectors hinged to each other at theirinner ends, fixed guides for the sectors, means for synchronously moving the sectors inward and outward, and a chain attached to the outer ends of the sec tors and defining their maximum spread, substantially as described.

19. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors movable on radial lines, springs between the seetors and pressing the same apart, and a chain attached to the outer ends of the sectors and defining their maximum spread,substantiall y as described.

20. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors movable on radial lines, springs between the seetors and pressing the same apart, and means for synchronously moving the sectors outward or inward, substantially as described.

21. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors movable on radial lines, springs between the sectors and pressing the same apart, fixed guides for the sectors, and means for synchronously moving the sectors outward or inward, substantially as described.

22. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors movable on radial lines, springs between the sec tors and pressing the same apart, means for synchronously moving the sectors outward or inward, and achain attached to the outer ends of the sectors and defining their maximum spread, substantially as described.

28. A table having a top comprising sectors, means for synchronously moving the sectors outward or inward, guiding-ribs lying between sectors, and a thin plate above the sectors and upon the guiding-ribs, and secured to the table at its center, substantially as described.

24:. A table having a top comprising sectors, guiding-ribs between the sectors, means for simultaneously moving the sectors outward or inward, a central hub having its upper surface level with the tops of the ribs, and a thin plate covering the sectors and ribs and fixed to the central hub, substantially as described.

g 25. A table having a top comprising sectors, guiding-ribs between the sectors, means for simultaneously moving the sectors outward or inward, a central hub having its upper surface level with the tops of the ribs, and a thin plate covering the sectors and ribs, and fixed to the central hub and at its outer edge to the table by pins passing through between the sectors, substantially as described.

26. Atablehavingacentralfixedstructure, extension members comprising sectors, an expansible ring connected to said sectors, and means for expanding and contracting said ring, substantially as described.

27. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors, an expansible ring connected to said sectors, radial rods engaging said ring at intervals, and means for moving the rods inward or outward at will, substantially as described.

28. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors, an expansible ring connected to said sectors, toothed rods extending from the center outward and engaging said ring at intervals, a centralpinion engaging said rods, and means for turning the pinion, substantially as dcscribed.

29. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors, an expansible ring, staples upon the sectors cmbracing said ring, and means for expanding and eontractin g said ring, substantially as described. I

30. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors, an expansible ring consisting of overlapping bars sliding upon each other, staples upon the sectors and embracing said ring, and means for expanding and contracting the ring, substantially as described.

IIS

31. Atablehavingacentral fixedstructuie, extension members comprising sectors, an expansible ring consisting of outer and inner parts which telescope, staples upon the sectors embracing said ring, and means for expanding and contracting the ring, substantially as described.

32. A table having acentral fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors, two expansible rings, one within the other, each ring being composed of sections which telescope, the inner section of one ring being located adjacent to the tubular or outer section of the other ring, and staples attached to the sectors and embracing the outer or tubular sections of the rings, substantially as described. a

33. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors, an expansible ring, staples upon the sectors embracing the said ring, arms extending from the centeroutward and engaging said ring, and means for operating said arms simultaneously, substantially as described.

34. Atablehavingacentralfixedstructure, extension members comprising sectors, two expansible rings one within the other, each ring being composed of sections which telescope, the inner section of one ring being cated adjacent to the tubular or outer section of the other ring, staples attached to the sectors and embracing the outer or tubular sections of the rings, arms extending from the center outward and engaging said rings, and means for extending or withdrawing said arms simultaneously, substantially as described.

' 35. Atablehavingacentralfixed structure, extension members comprising sectors, two expansible rings one within the other, each ring being composed of sections which telescope, the inner section of one ring being located adjacent .to the tubular or outer section of the other ring, staples attached to the sectors and embracing the outer or tubular sections of the ring, toothed arms extending from the center outward and engaging said rings, a central pinion engaging said arms, and means for turning said pinion, substantially as described.

36. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors, two expansible rings one within the other, each ring being composed of sections which telescope, the inner sect-ion of one ring being located adjacent to the tubular or outer section of the other ring, staples attached to the sectors and embracing the outer or tubular sections of the rings, toothed arms extending from the center outward and engaging said rings, a central shaft carrying a spur-pinion engaging said arms, a bevel-pinion, a horizontal shaft having a bevel-pinion engaging the first-named bevel-pinion, and means for turning the shaft, substantially as described.

37. A table having a'central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors, an

expansible ring connected to said sectors,

toothed arms extending from the center outward andengaging said rings, a central shaft carrying a spur-pinion engaging said arms, a bevel-pinion, a horizontal shaft having a bevel-pinion engaging the first-named bevelpinion, and means for turning said shaft, sub stantially as described.

.38. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors, an expansible ring connected to said sectors, arms extending from the center outward and connected to said ring, means for extending and withdrawing said arms, and legs connected to said arms, substantially as described.

39. Atablehavingacentralfixedstructure, extension members comprising sectors, an expansible ring connected to said sectors, toothed arms extending from the centeroutward and connected to said ring, a central pinion engaging said arms, means for turning said pinion, and legs connected to the outer ends of said arms, substantially as described.

40. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors, two expansible rings one within the other, each ring being composed of sections which telescope, the inner section of one ring being located adjacent to the tubular or outer section of the other ring, loops attached to the sectors and embracing the outer or tubular sections ofthe rings, arms extending from the center outward and connected to said rings, means for extending and Withdrawing said arms, and legs connected to the outer ends of the arms, substantially as described.

41. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members comprising sectors, two expansible rings one within the other, each ring being composed of sections which telescope, the inner section of one ring being located adjacent to the tubular or outer section of the other ring, loops attached to the sectors and embracing the outer or tubular sections of the rings, toothed arms extending from the center outward and engaging said rings, a central shaft carrying a spur-pinion engaging said arms, a bevel-pinion, a horizontal shaft having a bevel-pinion engaging the first-named bevel-pinion, means for turning said horizontal shaft, and legs connected to the said arms and rings, substantially as described.

42. A table having a central fixed structure, extension members. comprising sectors, expansible rings connected to said sectors, arms extending from the center outwardly, means for extending and withdrawing said arms, and rollers connected to the outer ends of said arms and embracing the rings, substantially as described. 7

43. A table having an expansible top, legs supporting the expansible outer sections of the said top, toothed arms extending from the center outward and connected to said legs at IIO top and bottom, central pinions engaging said toothed arms, and means for turning said pinions, substantially as described.

44. A table having an expansible top, legs supporting the expansible outer sections of said top, toothed arms extending from the center outward and connected to said legs at top and bottom, central pinions engaging said toothed arms, a common shaft for said pinions, :1- horizontal shaft provided at its outer end with means by which it may be turned, and bevel-gears connecting the two shafts,

, substantially as described.

synchronously, legs pivoted to the outer ends of said arms, and means forlocking the arms in either a horizontal or vertical position, substantially as described.

47. A table having an expansible top section composed of sectors, means for moving said sectors inward or outward, and peripherally-expansible supporting-rails extending about the table beneath said sectors, substantially as described.

48. A table having an expansible top section composed of sectors, means for moving said sectors inward or outward, expansible supporting-rails extending about the table beneath said sectors, and shoes attached to the under side of the sectors, and engaging said rails, substantially as described.

, CHARLES POUPON.

lVitnesses:

J. S. PRICE, .T. J. PLATTEN, Jr. 

